In the letter explaining a desire to see tax loopholes closed, a letter writer, an intern for a progressive advocacy group, complains about alleged tax loopholes that benefit corporations at the expense of students, superstorm Sandy victims and the public at large.

The reason "loopholes" were created in the first place was to give corporations some relief from a corporate tax burden that is already the highest in the industrialized world — one that puts American corporations at a global, competitive disadvantage.

The letter writer apparently would rather see money legally earned by corporations redistributed to those who did not earn it.

The solution to the nation's debt crisis lies not in raising taxes, but in cutting spending. Interns may not understand the principal. But anyone who carries a mortgage and pays taxes does.

Once again, the Obama administration is attempting to expand the power of the executive branch of government at the expense of the legislative branch (Congress).

As part of the ongoing "fiscal cliff" negotiations, President Obama demands authority to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling at any time. It is hoped that the Republicans who control the House will not agree to surrender any part of the legislative branch's constitutional authority to control budgetary matters. But they will likely cave in to this demand to gain concessions on taxes for the 2 percent they serve.

We're already well past the point where a balanced budget can be achieved in the foreseeable future. Neither party is willing to make the spending cuts that will even maintain the current debt level, let alone reduce it. Giving a president, any president, the right to add even more to this debt is insanity.

Robert Freschi

Hillsdale, Dec. 8

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I was a high school English teacher for 37 years before retiring. I consider myself somewhat of an expert in the use of the language and its vocabulary. What I can not understand is how the word entitlement came to have a negative connotation, as it did in the recent political debates and as it apparently has in the current fiscal cliff negotiations.

I paid Social Security taxes out of every penny of income I received. I am entitled to the benefits I was promised. Medicare payments were and are still taken out of my checks. I am entitled to the health care I was promised. I paid into my state pension fund every month I taught, even voluntarily paying an additional 1 1/2 percent for a higher pension. I am entitled to the pension I receive, as well as the medical benefits included.

Why are the politicians who mismanaged the Social Security and state pension funds now implying that I am somehow receiving something I shouldn't?